Comments on: Kintaro – The Best Ramen in Town

By: winerunr

winerunr — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 01:39:36 +0000

Thanks ed! Could you suggest some other restaurants that might be similar to Kintaro in terms of quality of food and size of restaurant? It does not have to be similar type of food. I did enjoy a French bistro style of place off of Robson Steet about a brisk ten minute walk from Kintaro that is also small yet of top quality food and preparation. I plan to return there as well! Since I am usually a single traveler I tend to favor smaller places rather than larger restaurants.

By: ed.chan

ed.chan — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 19:50:01 +0000

Thanks for sharing your experience with us winerunr!
I agree that the small and simple decor actually enhances the experience :) Kintaro spent a few days renovating earlier this year. I was a bit worried that they would make everything shiny and glitzy, messing up the charm, but all they did was slap some new paint on the wall :)

By: winerunr

winerunr — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 00:51:44 +0000

I ” discovered ” Kintaro during my recent vacation to Vancover in June 08. I had read a postive article about this place in one of the local free newspapers. The author seemed to like it very much so I thought that I would give it a try. I arrived around 3:30 on a delightful Sunday afternoon after participating in a yoga class nearby. I took a seat immediately inside the door at the bar so I could watch the two cooks work their “magic “. I felt as if I were suddenly transported to a small restaurant in a Japanese city! I believe that I was one of the few customers at the restaurant who was not of Asian descent but that was a good thing. I knew that I was in the right place for the ramen noodles and felt perfectly comfortable with my fellow patrons who were politely enjoying their meals. I don`t know of too many places like this in my home town so it was a great and somewhat exotic experience to have such a tasty meal at a resonable price at a restaurant like this in such a cosmopolitan city like Vancouver. The place is small but I think that this adds to its charm/ambience. Sitting at the bar and watching the cooks prepare all of the various orders while feasting on my own bowl of noodles added to my pleasure. By the time I left it was approaching the traditional dinner time and a line was beginning to form outside of Kintaro. As I walked back to the B&B where I was staying I knew that I had found a delightful gem of a place. I will return to Kintaro during my future visits to Vancouver that`s for sure. Its been over a month since I have returned home and I can still smell the cauldrons of broth steaming away and the noodles being prepared to perfection. Yummy!

By: dan

dan — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 23:18:20 +0000

I totally agree with the perfect score on this one. Though I'll always remember Kintaro as the place where I saw Vivian Chow in person, many years ago, sitting at the bar, slurping on the same delicious ramen as they have today. While I will never be able to go back in time to see my boyhood crush again, I can still go down to Denman to enjoy these noodles.

By: shokutsu

shokutsu — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 21:24:19 +0000

Good post Ed, nice to see a current review. I remember how not too long ago, Kintaro was the only real ramen joint in town, but now that corner has three options (albeit two are owned by the same guy). I’ve only ever had Kintaro once, didn’t come away totally blown away, and have been at Benkei as well. Not yet to Motomachi so need to give that a try and probably more meals at the other two as well to make my final decision. Agree with you that this is one great location for the best sights and eats in all of downtown Van.

shokutsu
@ http://foodosophy.wordpress.com/